Optical element

Abstract

An optical element includes a plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells. The plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells each includes a first substrate on which a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a first pad, a second pad, and a third pad are arranged, a second substrate on which a third transparent electrode and a fourth transparent electrode are arranged, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first pad, the second pad, and the third pad of each of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells are electrically connected to a first inter-cell conductive member, a second inter-cell conductive member, and a third inter-cell conductive member, respectively, extending in a stacking direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical element comprising a plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells, the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells each comprising:
 a first substrate on which a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a first pad, a second pad, and a third pad are arranged; 
 a second substrate on which a third transparent electrode and a fourth transparent electrode are arranged; and 
 a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, 
 wherein the first pad, the second pad, and the third pad of each of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells are electrically connected to a first inter-cell conductive member, a second inter-cell conductive member, and a third inter-cell conductive member, respectively, extending in a stacking direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical element according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a fourth pad is further provided on the first substrate of each of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells, and 
 the fourth pad of each of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells is electrically connected to a fourth inter-cell conductive member extending in the stacking direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical element according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells comprises a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell overlapping the first liquid crystal cell, 
 in each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in a first direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode, 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode through a first conductive paste, and 
 the fourth pad is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode through a second conductive paste. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The optical element according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to the first pad, the second pad, the third pad, and the fourth pad, respectively, are further provided on the first substrate of the first liquid crystal cell, and 
 an insulating layer is provided between a first wiring connecting the first pad to the first terminal and a second wiring connecting the second pad to the second terminal. 
 
     
     
       5. The optical element according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells further comprises a third liquid crystal cell overlapping the second liquid crystal cell and a fourth liquid crystal cell overlapping the third liquid crystal cell, 
 in each of the third liquid crystal cell and the fourth liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in the second direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode through a third conductive paste, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode through a fourth conductive paste, 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, and 
 the fourth pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The optical element according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to the first pad, the second pad, the third pad, and the fourth pad, respectively, are further provided on the first substrate of the first liquid crystal cell, and 
 an insulating layer is provided between a first wiring connecting the first pad to the first terminal and a second wiring connecting the second pad to the second terminal. 
 
     
     
       7. The optical element according to  claim 6 , further comprising a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, and the fourth terminal. 
     
     
       8. The optical element according to  claim 2 , wherein a first surface on which the first inter-cell conductive member and the second inter-cell conductive member are provided is different from a second surface on which the third inter-cell conductive member and the fourth inter-cell conductive member are provided. 
     
     
       9. The optical element according to  claim 2 , further comprising a terminal formation substrate disposed on one of an upper side and a lower side of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells,
 wherein the terminal formation substrate comprises:
 a first terminal electrically connected to the first inter-cell conductive member; 
 a second terminal electrically connected to the second inter-cell conductive member; 
 a third terminal electrically connected to the third inter-cell conductive member; and 
 a fourth terminal electrically connected to the fourth inter-cell conductive member. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The optical element according to  claim 9 , further comprising a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, the second terminal, the third terminal, and the fourth terminal. 
     
     
       11. The optical element according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells comprises a first liquid crystal cell and a second liquid crystal cell adjacent to the first liquid crystal cell, 
 in each of the first liquid crystal cell and the second liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in a first direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode though a first conductive paste, and 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode and is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode through a second conductive paste. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The optical element according to  claim 11 , further comprising a terminal formation substrate disposed on one of an upper side and a lower side of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells,
 wherein the terminal formation substrate comprises:
 a first terminal electrically connected to the first inter-cell conductive member; 
 a second terminal electrically connected to the second inter-cell conductive member; and 
 a third terminal electrically connected to the third inter-cell conductive member. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The optical element according to  claim 12 , further comprising a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal. 
     
     
       14. The optical element according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells further comprises a third liquid crystal cell and a fourth liquid crystal cell adjacent to the first liquid crystal cell, 
 in each of the third liquid crystal cell and the fourth liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in the second direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode through a third conductive paste, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, and 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode and is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The optical element according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells comprises a first liquid crystal cell, a second liquid crystal cell adjacent to the first liquid crystal cell, a third liquid crystal cell adjacent to the second liquid crystal cell, and a fourth liquid crystal cell adjacent to the third liquid crystal cell, 
 in each of the first liquid crystal cell and the third liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in a first direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode through a first conductive paste, and 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode and is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode through a second conductive paste, 
 
 in each of the second liquid crystal cell and the fourth liquid crystal cell,
 the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode extend in the second direction, 
 the third transparent electrode and the fourth transparent electrode extend in the first direction, 
 the first pad is electrically connected to the third transparent electrode through a third conductive paste, 
 the second pad is electrically connected to the first transparent electrode, and 
 the third pad is electrically connected to the second transparent electrode and is electrically connected to the fourth transparent electrode through a fourth conductive paste. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The optical element according to  claim 15 , further comprising a terminal formation substrate disposed on one of an upper side and a lower side of the plurality of stacked liquid crystal cells,
 wherein the terminal formation substrate comprises:
 a first terminal electrically connected to the first inter-cell conductive member; 
 a second terminal electrically connected to the second inter-cell conductive member; and 
 a third terminal electrically connected to the third inter-cell conductive member. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The optical element according to  claim 16 , further comprising a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal.